Begonia plant named &#39;LEMON ROSE&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of  Begonia  plant named ‘Lemon Rose’ that is characterized by compact rounded symmetrical habit, double flowers that are soft lemon-yellow in color and which develop apple blossom pink tones when exposed to full direct bright sun. ‘Lemon Rose’ blooms continually from early summer, exhibits dark mahogany foliage and prolific basal and lateral branching, is disclosed.

GENUS AND SPECIES

Begonia×tuberhybrida

DENOMINATION

‘Lemon Rose’

BACKGROUND OF THE VARIETY

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of tuberousBegonia plant, botanically of hybrid origin and known as Begonia ‘LemonRose’ and will be referred to hereafter by its cultivar name, ‘LemonRose’.

The new cultivar was derived from a controlled breeding programconducted by the inventor at the inventor's nursery in Whitecourt,Alberta, Canada. The purpose of the breeding program, which commenced in2006, is to develop novel selections of begonia plants with compact andsymmetrical plant habits and which are suitable for container and gardenuse. The inventor has concentrated on developing begonia varieties withattractive dark foliage and contrasting bright flowers which areproduced consistently from early summer until fall.

‘Lemon Rose’ resulted from the controlled pollination in 2009 of twounnamed and unreleased seedlings which the inventor had raised andretained from previous cycles in the breeding program. ‘Lemon Rose’ wasselected by the inventor in 2010 for its combination of soft yellowflowers and dark mahogany foliage.

The inventor first asexually reproduced ‘Lemon Rose’ in 2010 using themethod of terminal stem cuttings at the inventor's nursery inWhitecourt, Alberta, Canada. Since that time, the inventor hasdetermined that the characteristics of this cultivar are stable and arereproduced true to type in successive generations via terminal stemcuttings.

SUMMARY

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent thecharacteristics of the new cultivar, which in combination distinguish‘Lemon Rose’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Begonia.

-   -   1. ‘Lemon Rose’ exhibits a compact rounded symmetrical habit.    -   2. ‘Lemon Rose’ achieves a height of 30 cm and a diameter of 20        cm during one growing season in a 1 gallon container.    -   3. ‘Lemon Rose’ exhibits double flowers that are soft        lemon-yellow in color.    -   4. The flowers of ‘Lemon Rose’ develop apple blossom pink tones        when exposed to full direct bright sun.    -   5. ‘Lemon Rose’ blooms naturally and continually from spring        until fall.    -   6. ‘Lemon Rose’ exhibits dark mahogany foliage with contrasting        emerald green veining.    -   7. ‘Lemon Rose’ exhibits prolific basal and lateral branching.    -   8. ‘Lemon Rose’ is hardy in USDA zones 9-11.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTS AND CLOSEST KNOWN CULTIVAR

‘Lemon Rose’ is distinguishable from its parents by flower color.Whereas the flowers of ‘Lemon Rose’ are soft lemon-yellow in color, themale parent bears white flowers and the female parent bears dark yellowflowers which also are larger than the flowers of ‘Lemon Rose’.

The commercial cultivar known to the inventor which most closelyresembles ‘Lemon Rose’ is Begonia×tuberhybrida ‘Nonstop Yellow’(unpatented). ‘Lemon Rose’ may be compared with ‘Nonstop Yellow’ byflower size and flower color. The flowers of ‘Lemon Rose’ are smallerand lighter in color than the flowers of ‘Nonstop Yellow’. In addition,the foliage of ‘Lemon Rose’ is darker than the foliage of ‘NonstopYellow’. The inventor considers that ‘Lemon Rose’ exhibits more prolificbasal and lateral branching than is typical for tuberous begonias ingeneral.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceand distinct characteristics of the new Begonia cultivar ‘Lemon Rose’showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain incolored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differfrom the color values cited in the detailed botanical description, whichaccurately describes the actual colors of the new variety of Begonianamed ‘Lemon Rose’.

The photographs were taken in summer 2013 using 14-week-old plants of‘Lemon Rose’ which had been grown out of doors in Oxnard, Calif.

FIG. 1 depicts a whole plant view of ‘Lemon Rose’.

FIG. 2 depicts a close-up view of the flowers of ‘Lemon Rose’.

Both photographs have been made using conventional photographictechniques and although colors may appear different from actual colorsdue to light reflectance, they are as accurate as possible byconventional photography.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed description of plants of the new cultivarapproximately 18 months in age as grown in 20 cm containers undergreenhouse conditions in Whitecourt, Alberta, Canada. The colordeterminations are in accordance with the 2007 R.H.S. Colour Chart ofThe Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, except where generalcolor terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The newBegonia variety named ‘Lemon Rose’ has not been observed under allpossible environmental conditions. Phenotypic differences may beobserved with variations in environmental, climatic, and culturalconditions, without however, any difference in genotype.

-   Botanical classification:    -   -   Genus and species.—Begonia×tuberhybrida.-   Denomination: ‘Lemon Rose’-   Commercial classification: Annual or perennial.-   Plant:    -   -   Plant uses—Suitable for use in patio pots, landscaping,            bedding and containers.        -   Cultural requirements.—Provide good horticulture compost,            20° C. or more with a minimum of 12 hours of light needed            for production in the winter months, full sun to partial            shade and regular water.        -   Hardiness.—Hardy to USDA Zones 9-11.        -   Parentage.—Unnamed and unreleased seedlings from the            inventor's breeding program.        -   Plant description.—Blooming seasons: Spring, summer and            fall. Plant habit: Upright, bushy, freely branched. Plant            form: Mounding form. Plant vigor: Vigorous. Plant            propagation method: Propagated using the method of terminal            stem cuttings. Production time: 10 to 12 weeks to produce a            flowering plant in a 1 gallon container. Height and spread:            30 cm in height and 20 cm in spread. Diseases and pests: No            susceptibility or resistance to diseases or pests has been            observed. Root description: Fleshy to fibrous with no tubers            produced. Time to develop roots: 10 to 14 days at 22° C. are            needed to develop roots on an initial cutting.-   Stem description:    -   -   Stem size.—Average of 20 cm in length and 6 mm in width with            lateral branches about 4 mm in width.        -   Stem shape.—Round.        -   Stem color.—Ranges between 59A and 183A.        -   Stem surface.—Pubescent with sparse silver-gray hairs,            length 1 mm to 2 mm; lenticels sparse, color 158A.        -   Internode length.—Average of 20 mm.        -   Branching habit.—Freely branched.        -   Branching angle at emergence.—About 45°.        -   Stipules.—Present at base of stem, triangular in shape,            color 194C, length 6 mm, width 5 mm.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Leaf shape.—Cordate, asymmetrical.        -   Leaf division.—Simple.        -   Leaf base.—Cordate.        -   Leaf apex.—Acuminate.        -   Leaf venation.—Pinnate.        -   Vein color (adaxial surfaces).—Ranging from 143B to 145A.        -   Vein color (abaxial surfaces).—Ranging from 59A to 187B.        -   Leaf margins.—Irregularly dentate; single silver-gray hair,            length 1 mm to 2 mm, at tooth apex.        -   Leaf attachment.—Petiolate.        -   Leaf arrangement.—Alternate.        -   Leaf surface (adaxial surface).—Glossy with sparse colorless            hairs.        -   Leaf surface (abaxial surface).—Sparsely pubescent with            colorless hairs along veins.        -   Leaf color (adaxial surface).—Ranges between 200A and 200B            except 143B to 145A adjacent to veins.        -   Leaf color (abaxial surface).—Juvenile foliage 59A, maturing            to 187B.        -   Leaf dimensions.—Average of 7 cm in length, 4 cm in width.        -   Leaf fragrance.—None.        -   Petioles.—Ranging from 5 cm to 9 cm in length, 2 mm in            width.        -   Petiole surface.—Sparsely pubescent with simple hairs, color            is nearest 183D.-   Inflorescence and flowers:    -   -   General.—‘Lemon Rose’ is monoecious, producing both male and            female flowers on the same plant. Typically, each fully            developed inflorescence consists of 4 to 5 double male            flowers produced in the axils of the upper leaves which open            2 to 3 days before 3 to 4 smaller lateral double female            flowers. Up to 12 flowers have been observed on a single            stem (peduncle).        -   Male and female flowers.—Persistence: Self-cleaning. Type:            Double. Corolla form: Funnel form, tepals unfused at base.            Fragrance: Absent. Aspect: Upright and outward facing.            Peduncles: Dimensions: 4.5 cm in length and 3 mm in width.            Color: 179A. Surface: Smooth. Pedicel dimensions: 15 mm to            30 mm in length, 2 mm in width. Pedicel surface: Smooth,            glossy. Pedicel color: 158A, except 23D when exposed to full            direct bright sun. Bracts: Typically 2. Bract shape: Broad            ovate. Bract apex: Obtuse. Bract length: Average 10 mm.            Bract diameter: 10 mm. Bract color: 144D to 145B, margins            180A to 181C. Bract surface: Glabrous.        -   Male flowers.—(Androecium absent. Male flowers identified by            position, size, lack of gynoecium). Bud shape: Flattened            ovoid. Bud length: 15 mm. Bud diameter: 20 mm. Bud color:            4D, except between 36A to 39C when exposed to full direct            bright sun.        -   Flower dimensions.—5 cm in length and 4.5 cm in diameter.            Tepals (outer): 2 in number. Shape: Ovate. Apex: Obtuse.            Base: Acuminate. Margin: Smooth, entire. Dimensions: Average            of 2.5 cm in length and 2.5 cm in width. Surface (both            surfaces): Glabrous and smooth. Color (both surfaces): 4D,            except between 4D and 36A where surface exposed to full            direct bright sun. Tepals (inner): 15 to 20 in number.            Shape: Narrow elliptic. Apex: Obtuse. Base: Narrow, cuneate.            Dimensions: Average of 1.5 to 2 cm in length and 1 to 1.5 cm            in width, Surface (both surfaces): Glabrous and smooth.            Color (inner surface): 4D, except between 8D and 36A where            surface exposed to full direct bright sun. Color (outer            surface): 4D, except between 4D and 36A where surface            exposed to full direct bright sun. Androecium: Not observed.            Pollen: Not observed.        -   Female flowers.—Bud shape: Flattened ovoid. Bud length:            15 mm. Bud diameter: 20 mm in width. Bud color: 4D, except            between 36A and 39C where surface exposed to full direct            bright sun. Flower dimensions: 4.5 cm in length and 4.5 cm            in diameter. Tepals (quantity): 5. Shape: Ovate. Apex:            Obtuse. Base: Acuminate. Margin: Smooth, entire. Dimensions:            Average of 2.5 cm in length and 2.5 cm in width. Surface            (both surfaces): Glabrous and smooth. Color (both surfaces):            4D, except between 4D and 39C where surface exposed to full            direct bright sun. Style: Short, parted into 2-3 branches,            united at base. Color between 15A and 21A. Stigma:            Bifurcated, loose spiral. Ovary: Inferior, consisting of 3            carpels. Dimensions: Length: 8 mm. Diameter: 8 mm. Color            (both surfaces): 145B, becoming 37C on carpel tips.-   Seed: None observed to date

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Begonia plant named ‘Lemon Rose’ as described and illustrated. 